AL DIVISION SERIES: RANGERS VS ORIOLES

October 7, 2023

Jordan Montgomery

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Texas Rangers

Pregame 1 Press Conference

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: When you were traded over here, obviously Max was traded at the same time and Nate was at the top of rotation. But via injuries and how well you pitched, you've become the top guy. How have you felt about being the Game 1 starter in the Wild Card and coming into this.

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Really just trying to go out there and give the team a chance to win every time. I think our rotation kind of believes in themselves and thinks they're the best when they're out there. I love that confidence and I think that's what makes us tick.

Q. You faced the Orioles a good amount in your career, the same with Tampa. Does that matter at all? Does that help? Or does that not matter as much as people think?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I don't think it matters. I mean, this is a totally new team than when I was facing. A bunch of good players. They've always been a good team. Always had a good lineup and I'm excited to face them again tomorrow.

Q. What has the last month and a half, two months been like for you? Going from a not quite as contending team to where you are now, what has that been like?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I think that's just baseball for you. You can be on top of the mountain and then unfortunately you have to come down at one point. You have to ride the wave and stay as even-keeled as you can.

Q. What's pitching in this ballpark with left field the way it is as opposed to the way it used to be?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: A lot different. Righties used to -- I remember Gleyber Torres hit, like, 18 home runs here. I think he might have been the reason they moved it back.

It kind of changes what you're throwing and how you attack righties. But, yeah, that's the main thing I think of every time I think of the fence getting moved back, was that run Gleyber did.

Q. You've always been a guy who even when you haven't been one thee ace or one of the top guys, you've always been relatively steady, going back to your time with the Yankees. What allows you to be somebody who finds success even when you're not at your best? What has allowed you to take that next step?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I think really just going out there and once I'm out there, stop thinking and just being kind of in a competitive mode has really helped me. I used to kind of be overthinking it, overanalyzing every pitch, trying to make sure my mechanics are perfect, rather than just kind of existing out there and competing. The last two years I've focused on in between five days, I can work on whatever I work on, but on game day it's just competing.

Q. Jack Flaherty, when you think back to your guys' last couple of weeks in St. Louis as the trade deadline was approaching, what was the pressure or the forces kind of like at that time? And what's it like to see another from that clubhouse in this series?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: It was good to see Jack yesterday. I feel like that last week and a half in St. Louis, we were joking with each other the whole time. Asking if we had our bags packed yet, asking where he was going. He'd crack up every time. We just controlled what we could control. Tried to stay as positive and keep being good teammates while we were there. And then we got traded and kind of went our separate ways. But it was good to see him.

Q. You've pitched with some pretty significant guys over the years. Who did you kind of go to school on as you were coming up early in your time in the Major Leagues that kind of taught you a lot of things about the big leagues and maybe might have some lessons you can apply now that you're in this prominent position with the Rangers?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I was CC Sabathia's shadow about three years. That was a guy that was great to me. Taught me a lot. A good friend. If I text him, he'll reach out. I got to see him in Tampa. Yeah. CC was a big dude. Jay Happ. Just a lot of lefties that have come through and I've gotten the honor of being a teammate and being friends, too.

Q. We've talked about Max's influence on a staff as a whole, especially from the starters. What have you gotten from him last year in St. Louis and these past couple of months since you reunited with him in Texas?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I think he kind of gives you some confidence. Obviously he's incredible at reading swings and coming up with a game plan. But just giving you confidence in your stuff and just kind of him relying on me, gives me some confidence. And just knowing he's been there, seen it all. He can really help anybody.

Q. The Orioles weren't quite there yet when you last were playing the same division as them. I'm curious, what stands out to you about them now as you're preparing to face them?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: They've got a lot of new faces. Mountcastle was just coming up, and I think everyone knew he was going to be a stud. And then they got Henderson and Adley and Cedric has been great. And up and down their lineup, a lot of talent. And their starters have been great. Just altogether a really good team.